USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 69
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
he was first a whig, and later became a republican on the organization of that party. He was elected to a number of official positions in the town of Niagara, and discharged the duties thereof with fidelity and care. He was a prosperous farmer, and so correct and conscientious in all his deal- ings that his word everywhere was as good as his bond. He married Lydia Miner, a native of Connecticut, and reared a family. She, like her husband, was a life-long member of the Presbyterian church, and her death occurred in 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. She was a good Christian woman, and greatly respected and loved by a wide circle of friends and ac- quaintances.
L. Parsons Gillette came to Niagara county with his parents in 1836, when only four years of age, and was reared on the farm. He attended the common schools of his neighborhood, and afterward finished his studies in the academy at Wilson. He has spent his life principally in farming and fruit growing, his farm being located on the river road, two miles from Youngstown. Here he has one hundred acres of fine orchards, to which he devotes most of his attention, and has been very successful in his management and cultivation of fruit.
In his political affiliations Mr. Gillette has always been democratic, and is active and influential in his party's councils. He was early elected to a number of town offices, which he filled with credit to him- self and the universal satisfaction of the people. In 1890 he was nominated by his party as its candidate for the State assembly from his district, and when the election occurred was triumphantly elected. He served his constituents with such ability and fidelity that he was re-elected to the
same responsible position in 1891. Mr. Gillette is a hale and hearty man, and is very popular in business, political and social circles. He is a great student of men and things, and his reading has taken a wide range. Few men are better posted on cur- rent political or economic questions, or keep so thoroughly in touch with the won- derful progress of this wonderful age.
JUSTICE W. HACKETT, a prosperous and popular business man of the village of Wilson, and a well known citizen of the county, is a son of Justice W. and Betsey (Felt) Hackett, and was born in the town of Wilson, this county and State, on the 17th day of October, 1854. The Hackett family is of English extraction, and was planted in America at an early day. Justice W. Hackett, Sr., was a native of one of the eastern counties of New York, but removed to Niagara county as early as 1830. He was a farmer by occupation, and purchased a farm in the town of Wilson, where he was engaged in the cultivation of the soil until his death in 1862, his life having then reached four years beyond a half century. His wife, who, like her husband, was born in the eastern part of the State, survived him only two weeks, dying in the forty-third year of her age. The elder Justice W. Hackett was a democrat in politics.
Justice W. Hackett, Jr., was reared on the home farm in the town of Wilson, and attended the public schools of his district, receiving a good common school education. After leaving school he engaged in farming, and continued in that occupation until the fall of 1877, when he removed to the village of Wilson, where he has ever since resided. On moving to Wilson he embarked in tlie
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butchering business, and three years later added a grocery store to his first venture. He has sinee conducted this combined busi- ness with good success, and now has a large and flourishing trade.
In 1875 M. Hackett was united in mar- riage with Belle Bruyare, a daughter of Oliver and Eliza Bruyare, of the village of Wilson. To their union two children have been born : Newton O. and Glenn S.
In political matters Mr. Hackett has always been identified with the Democratic party, and gives it an unwavering support on all State and national issues, while in- clined somewhat toward independence in local polities. He has served for five years in succession as overseer of the poor in his town. He is a member of Ontario Lodge, No. 376, Free and Accepted Masons, and is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is enterprising and industrious, with fine business acquirements, and is extremely popular in both the town and village of Wilson.
N' ICHOLAS BECKRICH, a prominent real estate dealer of North Tonawanda, and a director in the German American bank, is a son of John P. and Annie M. (Fitehilee) Beckrich, and was born April 26, 1845, in Lorraine, France. His parents were both natives of that province, but emi- grated to the United States in 1846 and located in the town of Lockport, Niagara county, New York. Later they removed across the line into Erie county, but soon returned to the city of Lockport, where they lived four years, and in 1854 came to North Tonawanda. Here John P. Beek- rich died in 1855, in the thirty-ninth year of his age. He was a Roman Catholic in
religion, a democrat in polities, and by occu- pation a hotel keeper. He married Annie M. Fitchilee, by whom he had a family of six children. She still survives him, being now in her seventy-third year.
Nicholas Beckrich was reared in Niagara county, and received his education in the public schools here. After attaining man- hood he became the pioneer in the iee busi- ness at North Tonawanda, and successfully conducted that trade for a period of nine years. During this time he had come into possession of some real estate, and in 1885 he began dealing in that line of property, and has been very successful. He devotes his entire time and attention to this busi- ness, and has made a number of important deals. He is one of the directors of the German American bank of Tonawanda.
On August 9, 1873, Mr. Beckrich was wedded to Rose Barto, of the city of Buf- falo, and to their union was born an only son, George L.
In his political affiliations Mr. Beckrich is a democrat, and gives his party a steady support on all leading issues. He has fre- quently been honored by his fellow citizens with clection to official position, and has always discharged these trusts in a manner to satisfy the public and reflect credit upon himself. He served as town clerk for some time, and has been a member of the city . council for two terms, and in the board of school commissioners three years, beside other minor positions. He is a member of Tonawanda Lodge, No. 247, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and of Tonawanda Chapter, No. 278, and the Ancient Order United Workmen. He was among the first to en- gage in the real estate business at North Tonawanda, and while being quite successful financially, has at the same time won a rep-
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
utation as a live, progressive, enterprising business man, who has done his share toward attracting attention to the village and developing its business and commercial interests.
H' ENRY M. DAVIS. Among the prom- inent and well established lawyers of Lockport is IIenry M. Davis, who is a son of Nathaniel and Sarah A. (Holmes) Davis, and was born in Wilson, Niagara county, New York, December 13, 1836. The Davis family is of Welsh descent, and is one of the old and thrifty families of the United States. Ebenezer Davis (grandfather) was a native of Gorham, Maine, and came to Niagara county, where he took up a tract of land, in 1820. Daniel Holmes (maternal grandfather) was born in Saratoga county, and removed to this county, where he be- came one of the leading farmers as well as one of the pioneer settlers of this section of country. He served as a deacon and elder in the Presbyterian church for more than twenty years. Nathaniel Davis (father) was also a native of Gorham, Maine, and came to Niagara county, where he took up a tract of land the same year as did his father. Here he enjoyed the life of a thrifty farmer until 1883, when he died at the advanced age of seventy-three years. He was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, a firm sup- porter of the Republican party, and married Sarah A. Holmes, a native of Charlton, Sara- toga county, who died in 1863, at the age of fifty-one years. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, and was highly respected by all who knew her.
Henry M. Davis was reared in the town of Wilson, and received his education at the Wilson Collegiate institute. Leaving school, he was first engaged in farming,
then in the mercantile business, and served for several years as justice of the peace of Wilson. In 1878 he began to read law with Ellsworth Potter, of Lockport, and was admitted to the bar in 1882, at Syracuse, this State. He then opened an office at Wilson and practiced until 1889, when he removed to Lockport, where he has been engaged in a lucrative practice until the present time.
In 1870 he was united in marriage with Christina Turner, daughter of Jacob Turner, of the town of Wilson. To this union have been born two children : Frederick HI., born July 23, 1874; and Jessie M., born Feb- ruary 1, 1878.
In politics lie is a republican, a member of the Presbyterian church, and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. Davis has given his time closely to his profession and its practice in the courts of Niagara and surrounding counties, and his clients' interests never suffer in his hands from inattention or lack of effort on his part.
JOHN RUBBERT, of North Tona- wanda, is a son of Carl and Dora (Rost) Rubbert, and was born in Germany, near Berlin, on March 6, 1853. Carl Rub- bert and Dora, his wife, were natives of Germany, and resided near Berlin. They came to the United States in 1865, and located at Bergholtz, this county, where he still resides at the advanced age of seventy- three years. He is a member of the German Evangelical Lutheran church in religion, and a democrat in politics. He, like many of the emigrants of that day, allied himself with the Democratic party, because it had stood up manfully for freedom and liberty, and against the alien and sedition laws that
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were fathered by the federalists, and the new-comers into the country soon learned that the Democratic party extended them a warm welcome. He has spent most of his life farming, and is and has been an active, industrious man. Mrs. Dora (Rost) Rub- bert died at Tonawanda in the year 1882. She was a life-long member of the German Lutheran church, founded upon the reform doctrines of Martin Luther, one of the greatest religious reformers that the world has produced. Nearly, if not all, the re- form churches of Germany are founded upon his doctrines and teachings. The church has taken deep root in this country, and to-day has almost seven hundred thou- sand communicants in the United States.
John Rubbert came to the United States in 1865, with his parents. He was educated in the public schools of the town of Berg- holtz after he arrived here, but he had been attending the common schools in Germany before he came to this country. After his arrival he remained on the farm until the year 1871, and then took a little survey of the surrounding country, and spent two years in the State of Minnesota, but he was not content, and returned to this county and engaged in the general contracting business, principally bridge contracting, however, and followed it until 1880, when he engaged in the general mercantile business in the town of Martinsville, this county. He remained there until 1886, when he sold out and came back to North Tonawanda, and began to keep a hotel, and carried it on for a period of two years. He was appointed a justice of the peace to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of William Dornfield, of Martins- ville. In 1890 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace by the people, and is now holding this important station, dis-
charging its duties in an acceptable manner. In 1887 he read law with the law firm of Arnistrong & Duckwitz, of the city of Buf- falo, and has been engaged in the real estate business. He has acquired great popularity as an auctioneer, and has cried sales all over this county for a period of thirteen years.
He married Christina Wittkoff, of St. Johnsburg, this county. She died, leaving one daughter, now eleven years of age. Mr. Rubbert was again married, to Mary, daughter of Carl Ziele, of Martinsville, this county, and this union has been blessed with two children : Carl F. W. and Edward. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, and believes in its tenets and principles.
Ile is a democrat in politics, and takes a deep interest and an active part in party struggles. He believes in a true liberal democratic government, cheaply and hon- estly administrated. He believes that the people should rule, and is opposed to cor- rupting the ballot and robbing the people by unnecessary taxation. He has led a stirring, busy life, and stands well with his neighbors and acquaintances.
F. U. GASKILL, M. D., a leading physician of Wilson, and a popular and influential citizen of Niagara county, is a son of George B. and Laura (Minott) Gaskill, and was born in Lockport, Niagara county, New York, June 21, 1847. His ancestors on both sides are of English extraction. In 1750 the founder of the family in America settled in New England, and a full ancestral history of the family may be found in the biography of Hon. Joshua Gaskill, which appears in this volume. The grandfather of Dr. F. U. Gaskill was Varney Gaskill, a native of
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
Vermont, who removed from that State to Lockport, this county, at a very early day, being one of the pioneers of this section. After living in Lockport for a number of years, he removed to the town of Somerset, this county, where he died in 1852, aged about seventy-five years. IIe was a farmer by occupation, and served as captain of a company in the war of 1812. In politics he was an old-line whig, and was an active and influential member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a popular and highly respected citizen, and married and reared a family of three sons and four daughters. One of these sons was George B. Gaskill (father), who was born in Bridle- boro, Vermont, in 1801, and removed with his parents to Lockport, and later to the town of Somerset, this county, where he died in 1856. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, owning an extensive tract of land, and conducting his operations on a large scale. He was first an old-line whig in politics, but became a republican on the organization of that party, and was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was very active and influential, both in politics and religion, and was universally admired and respected. He married Laura Minott, and to them were born twelve sons and daughters.
F. U. Gaskill was the youngest of these twelve children, and was reared on the farm, and educated in the common schools of Niagara county, and in a private institute in the village of Somerset, under the tutorage of Prof. John B. Atchison. In 1869 he be- gan the study of medicine, reading with Dr. D. S. Frazer, of Londonville, Orleans county, in whose office he remained two years. At the expiration of that time he went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and con-
tinued his reading in the office of Dr. J. Orton Eddy for one year, when he becanie an assistant in his practice, and continued in that capacity until 1876. He then en- tered Detroit Medical college, from which he was graduated in the class of 1879, since which time he has been in active general practice. He first opened an office at Yates, Orleans county, this State, where he continued for three years, and then removed to Alum Springs, Roncevert, Virginia, on account of failing health. He remained at the springs one year, practicing very little, but gradually regaining his health, after which he returned to Niagara county, and in 1882 located at Wilson, where he has ever since remained in the practice of his profession. Here he has, by a pleasant manner, agreeable address, careful attention to professional duties, and his skill in the healing art, succeeded in acquiring a large and lucrative practice.
In 1866 Dr. Gaskill was united by mar- riage with Emma C., daughter of Eli Clark, of Yates, New York, and to this union has been born one son, Glen F., who saw the light first on May 12, 1870, and is now (1892) reading law with IIon. Joshua Gaskill, of Lockport.
In politics Dr. Gaskill is a stalwart re- publican, being a firm believer in the fundamental principles of that party, and wielding his influence toward its advance- ment and success. He is a member of Ontario Lodge, No. 376, Free and Accepted Masons, at Wilson, of whichi lodge he has been master for a number of years. Dr. Gaskill is now president of the Niagara County Medical society, of which he has been an active and prominent member for the last six years. IIe has also been presi- dent of the village of Wilson for some
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
time, and a member of the republican county committee for several terms. He is affable and kindly in manner, of fine pres- ence, and ranks as one of the foremost physicians in this part of New York.
RANK H. PERRIGO, a skilled me- chanic of the county, who by industry and application to business has earned a competency, and is now retired, is a son of Albert E. and Betsey E. (Woodward) Per- rigo, and was born in the town of New Fane, Niagara county, New York, October 2, 1839. Albert E. Perrigo was born in the State of Vermont, on November 22, 1812, and at the age of twelve years began to learn the trade of a shoemaker at Clark- son Corners, New York, but has now re- tired from business. He married Betsey E. Woodward, who was born in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, this State, on the 8th day of March, 1816, and by her had four children, three sons and one daughter: Frank H., Milton E., Cornelia J., and John J., all of whom are living in New York, with the exception of John J., who is re- siding in the State of Michigan.
Frank H. Perrigo received his education in the town of New Fane, this county, and after leaving school learned the trade of blacksmith, making a specialty of shoeing. He left his native town and located at Sanborn, where he has a shop in which none but first-class work is done. He takes great delight in his trade, and claims that there is as much good judgment to be dis- played in fitting a horse's foot as a person's. He keeps samples of fine shoes, that horse- men may see that he has studied the art of shoeing. He owns a small farm at Sanborn, and gardens and farms on a limited scale.
Mr. Perrigo was wedded to Sarah E. Pierce, daughter of Christopher and Mary E. Pierce. To Mr. and Mrs. Perrigo have been born four children, three of whom are still living: Lilian May, married George E. Wentworth, a merchant of Lockport, and they have three children-Nora C., Frank A., and Rhea A .; Bert C., and Maggie L., living at home with their parents.
Frank H. Perrigo is a republican in poli- ties, in which he takes a lively interest, and believes in the principles of his party. He is a member of the E. O. U.
W ILLIAM J. KAGE, of North Tona- wanda, is a son of William and Hen- rietta (Koppen) Kage, and was born in Brandenburg, Germany, on June 2, 1859. His father, William Kage, is a native of Passo, Germany, and came to the United States in the year 1871, locating in Niagara county. He now resides in North Tona- wanda, where he has lived since 1890, hav- ing come from the State of Michigan, where he had been for a period of ten years. During his residence in Michigan he en- gaged in farming, but he has now retired from active business, being in the fifty- second year of his age, though still quite active. He was in the Franco-Prussian war, and marched with the victorious Ger- man army to the very fortifications of Paris. Mrs. William Kage, the mother of William J., is a native of Willendorf, Germany. She is in her fifty-sixth year, and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, as is her husband. When the Lutheran reformation took deep root and spread over all north Germany, he became imbued with the spirit of reform, adopted its principles, and left his native land to take up his life abode
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
where the foundation and corner stone of the government rests upon religious and civil liberty. He is a democrat in politics, and believes in the tenets of his party, a strict obedience to the constitution, observ- ance of law, the largest liberty consistent with security, and is opposed to meddle- some interference with the rights of the individual.
William J. Kage was brought up in his native country, and was educated in the common schools of Germany. He came to the United States in the year 1871, accom- panied by his parents, and in 1874 he located in North Tonawanda and took the position of clerk in a mercantile house, and continued as such until 1879, when he started to seek his fortune in the far west, going to Lead- ville and the Black Hills and engaging in mining. After one years' trial at hasty fortune making he returned to Tonawanda and re-engaged with his old employer as clerk until 1883, when he engaged in the grocery business, and has remained in this business from that date. IIe has been sue- cessful in his business, and can boast of one of the largest and best stocked stores in the city, and has an unusually large trade.
William J. Kage was married to Fred- ericka B., daughter of Charles Livering, in 1883, at Tonawanda, and from this union they have had born to them two children : Walter W. and Emma. He is a member of the Fredins Evangelical Lutheran church, and is trustee and secretary of this church. He is a member of the Ancient Order of American Workmen, and of the Select Knights. It is useless to add anything to these facts; they speak louder than any words as to the character and standing he has in this community. The biographer has no need or room to draw upon his
imagination for complimentary words when he finds them, as in this and many other instances, indissolubly connected with the person of whom he writes.
ELIAS ROOT. The Root family emi- grated from England to this country in 1634, and located in the southern part of Connecticut. Thomas Root, a descendant of this family, was one of the first settlers of Hartford, Connecticut. Elias Root, the subject's grandfather, was a native of Wil- lington, Connecticut, and emigrated to this county in 1812, and secured a large tract of
land at Pekin. He was engaged for some time in the manufacture of woolens, near Syracuse, New York. Thomas Root, father of the subject, is a native of Onondaga county, New York, and moved to this county when very young. He now resides at Pekin, and is engaged in farming. For thirty-five years he served in the capacity of justice of the peace with credit and dis- tinction. He has been engaged in settling up numerous large estates, and is recog- nized as a man of judgment and enterprise. IIe is a trustee in the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a republican, and has held the offices of supervisor of Cambria, and justice of the sessions for two terms. Martha Root, his wife, is a native of Canı- bria. She is in the seventy-first year of her life, and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. .
Elias Root was born and reared at Pekin. Ile was educated in the public schools of his native town and the Lockport Union schools. Early in life he exhibited a perse- verance, aptitude, and the bent of his mind was toward the profession of law. After leaving school, he read law with the cele-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
-
brated law firm of Holm, Fitch & Chipman, of Loekport. He was a bright student, quick at discovering the principles of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. He moved to North Tonawanda, where he opened an office and began the practice of his profession, and has continued practice, with the exception of two years, ever since. He has a large practice, and is one of the rising lawyers at the bar, of the county. In 1891 he entered into a partnership with Charles S. Orton, under the firm name of Root & Orton. This firm is too well known throughout western New York to require an extended notice. They are building up a large practice, and can be relied upon to properly transact any business entrusted to their care.
In 1889 Mr. Root was married to Carrie, daughter of Cephas Broughton, of Victor, New York. They have one child, Arthur T. Mr. Root is a prohibitionist, and is identified with all the movements of that party. He believes that a national law will be ultimately enacted prohibiting the man- ufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage. He is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and a scholarly christian gentleman. Mr. Root is con- servative in his views upon the great polit- ical topics, and his adviee is sought upon every hand. He has a fine large law library, and is acquainted with all the de- cisions of the supreme court. In manner he is polite and suave. He is honored and respected by all who know him, and is destined to rise in his profession.
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